Vegetable and fruit receptacle



Feb. 13, 1923. 1,445,078.

A. FREEMAN.

VEGETABLE AND FRUIT RECEPTACLE.

FILED APR. 9. 192. a SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Feb. 13, 1923. 1,445,078. A. FR E E M A N VEGETABLE AND FRUIT RECEPTACLE.

FILED APR. 9. 1921. 3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

2 72. yaw/ M nrrpe/vzr Patented Feb. 13, 1923.

UNITED STATES ALBERT FREEMAN, OF MOLINE. ILLINOIS.

VEGETABLE AND FRUIT RECEPTACLE.

Application filed April 9,

.vention has reference to a vegetable 1 receptacle. and designed pr1n- )r use in a retail store. One of the and it or p al fourposts thereof is to provide a convenient recept: 1 for potatoes and similar articles. which are usually purchased in small quantities by measurement or corresponding weights and means connected with such ceptacle the positive discharge. of the articles therefrom.

Another purpose thereof is to provide a discharge chute or scoop at the opening from which the vegetables are delivered which can be raised into a non-operative position and interrupt the movement of such vege tables.

Another purpose thereof to provide a convenient weighing apparatus which can he used interchangeably with several receptacles, which apparatus is fitted to hold the container into which the vegetalfles are to he delivered, and which can be adjusted for containers of differentsizes. Such apparatus automatically indicates the weight of the articles as they are received in the container. and by the use of the machine the vegetables can be delivered in des red quantities without the necessity of handling them in the usual manner.

' In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows my invention in front elevation.

Fig. 2 is a medial vertical section thereof, with the weighing apparatus removed.

Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof.

Figs. 4 and 5 are details of the frame 16. with the bar 19 in different supporting positions.

F ig. 6 is a modified form of agitator for use in discharging the vegetables.

1 represents a frame, supported on legs 2, provided with swivel rollers L, oy means of which the device can he moved fron'i one point to another in a store. In the upper part of the frame is a casing 4;, suspended in which is a hopper 5, the sides of which converge downwardly toward a sloping floor 6, at the lower end of which is an opening 7 of the United States. residing at Serial No. 460,096.

in the casing l.

8. above 'l he floor 6 has an 0 ning ...h is an agitator 9. formed r a series of steps, each of which contains :a plurality oi? openings 10. At one side of casing at pivoted a rod 11. es beneath the agitator 9 and has wmncction thcn'zwith so that an on. moz en'u-rnt of such bar in a hom :contul plane will impart a reciprocating movement to the agitator. The movable end the rod l, connected by a rod 12 with -lever iii, 'i' ulcruined to the front of the machine. as at 7). and the lever 11 is wnnecteri with the rear part of. the frame by a coiled spring 14. which tends to hold such lever normally in a rearward position. On the front side of the machine, at the r part thereof, a cross-bar 15. to o l :h is-attachcd a frame 16, secured to the casing at its lower end by means of arms Pivoted to one side of said frame. as at c, a hand-lever l8, pivoted to which is a bar so as to he vertically movable. At the upper end of the bar 19 a hook 20. h is supported a scale 2L. by means of a loop ;:4 on the upper end thereof. Said scale "s pro ided with a dial 223 and indicator 24. 1 common type, and depending from the scale beam is a frame 25, supportin at its lower end a platform 26, adapted to receive a sack or other container. as indicated at 27. I

l'lin ilv connected to the casing 4. at the lower side of the openingi", is a chute 28. provided with a cross-plate 29. When in lowered position. as shown in full lines in F irr. 2. the discharge end of the chute is in proximity to the mouth of the container 27, so that articles passing through such chute will he received in the container. lVhen the chute is raised the plate 29 forms a bar across the lower part of. the outlet from the receptacle and assists in holding the contents thereof from. movement.

lVhere vegetables are purchased in small quantities it is usually in peeks or halfpecks. or amounts approximate thereto. On that account two sizes of sacks are found to be convenient, namely. a fifteen pound. size. and one about half as large. The position of the platform 26 which would be suitable for the large sized sack would not answer so well for the small-sized one. as it would bring: the mouth of the sack too far below the chute. and some of the articles would be spilled. To overcome this difficulty the frame and platform are vertically inovable, through the support thereof on the bar 19. When a larger sized. container is being used the bar 19 is at its lowest position, as shown in Fig. 5, and when a smaller is to be used such bar is raised to the position shown in Fig, 4:. This brings the platform closer to the end oif the chute Q8. lhe lever 13 and bar l9 can be locked in elevated position by means of a spring latch on the lever l8,'adapted "for engagement with a notch 31 in the "tr-sine 16, i

lln operation, a saclr of suitable size is placed on the platform 26, and the chute 28 tipped, downwardly. H the vegetables do not move oi their own g ity, the handlever li is actuated, inovii the agitator 9, and causing forced feed ()1 he contents of the receptacle. Any dirt contained on the vegetables is removed in this process and passes through the openings 10 into a box 32 beneath the opening in the floor, which boa: can be removed and emptied when necessary.

its soon asit appears from the scale indicator that the desired weight oi? vegetables has been received on the platform, the chute 28 is raised, chechingthe movement of any more oi. such articles By having-the scale and bag support detachably supported on the and transferred to another receptacle which is similarly arranged. One of the weighing apparatuses can thus be employed for a number of receptacles containing the same class of: vegetables, or dilierent classes of vegetables and fruits,

In l? 6 's shown form of agitator which can be sub, J the one hereinbefore set forth. indicates a frame, having end-pieces 3a, a 1d a central crossbar 35, upon which is slidable a'shalrer-bar 36, At one end of the frame is a series of rods or wires 37, secured at one end to the crosspiece 34, and provided at their inner ends with loops 88, in engagement with pins 89 on the bar 36. At the opposite end of the frame is a similar series or": rods 40, also providedat their inner ends with loops in engagemen with the pins 89 beneath the loops 38. in lateral oscillation of the bar 36 imparts a shaking movement to the 37 and i0, and the frame being set on an incline to correspond with that oi? the door (3, vegetables received on the rods would be moved downwardly thereby, the dirt passing downwardly between the rods. ()ne end of the bar has connected thereto the end of a hand-lever fulcruined on an arm 42, as at d. The outer end of the lrnd-lever would be the front of the machine, con venient for use by the operator.

While the invention has been pointed out as being inore specially intended for the handling of potatoes, it is not limited to frame 16, this part of the machine can be quickly removed or said eptaele, having an incline to ward the lower edge said opening, and

rovided with a central openin an agitator mounted n said floor above said openinc", lo ned or a series oi. steps; a chute hlnged ached. to sa1d receptacle in front of the op g therein, and provided. with "-p, te forming partial obstruction 'ng when the chute is raised; actuating said agitatorfrom the outsale of the receptacle.

2. A device of the class described, coma suitably mounted receptacle hav ing a hopper in its upper part, and an opening in one of its sides; a floor for said receptacle, inclined toward the lower edge 0i said opening, and having acentral opening beneath said hopper; an agitator rnounted in said floor above said. opening, formed of a a series of perforated steps; means :lor actuating said agitator from the outside of the receptacle; and a removable box beneath said agitator. i i

v 3. A device of the class described, corn: prising suitably mounted receptacle; provided with a suitable hopper and having a discharge opening in one of its sides; a floor for said receptacle, inclined toward the lower edge of said opening, and having; a

central opening beneath said hopper; an agitator operable in the opening in said floor; means for actuating said agitator from the outside of the receptacle; and a chute hingedly attached to said receptacle in front or the opening therein, normally forming an obstruction for the contents of said receptacle, but adapted to be turned into position to form a discharge pipe therefor. v

v 4. A device of the class described, comprising; suitably mounted receptacle having an opening in one of its sides; a floor for said receptacle inclined toward the lower edge of said opening, and QIOVlClGClFVllDh a central aperture; an agitating device oper ably supported in said aperture; means for actuating said agitating; device from the dis charge side of said receptacle; a discharge spout hingedly attached to said receptacle in front of tie opening; therein and pro ride-d with a cross-plate forming a barrier when said spout is turned upwardly; a scale supported above said opening; and a platform supported from the beam of said soale in line with and below said discharge spout.

5. A, device of the class described, com.-

prising a suitably mounted receptacle provided w th a discharge opening in one of its sides; :1 floor for said receptacle inclined to ard the lower edge of said (awning; a discharoc spout hingedly attached to said receptacle in front, of said opening: a frame attached to said receptacle above said open a bar supported in said frame as to be vertically movable therein; means toiholding: said bar in adjusted positions, vertically; a scale removahly attached to said bar; and a platform suspended from said scale in line with and below said discharge spout. the weight of articles on said platform being indicated by said scale.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ALBERT FREEMAN. 

